Cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance, and cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a container having a depression for accommodating a main body of the cleaning appliance that is equipped with the rotatable brush roller and a water reservoir fluidly connected with the depression. A cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir has been filled flows automatically into the depression. When the cleaning appliance is disposed in the cleaning apparatus, the water reservoir is associated with an edge of the cleaning appliance that is spaced apart from the brush roller, and the brush roller at least partially abuts a bottom of the depression. A cleaning system is also provided that includes the cleaning apparatus and the cleaning appliance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/063119, filed on May 12, 2020, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2019 112 779.3, filed on May 15, 2019. The International Application was published in German on Nov. 19, 2020 as WO 2020/229442 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance, comprising a container having a first depression for accommodating the main body of the cleaning appliance equipped with the brush roller, and a water reservoir. The invention further relates to a cleaning system comprising a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning appliance.

BACKGROUND

Such a cleaning appliance is known from U.S. Pat. No. 8,819,882 B2. For cleaning smooth floors in particular, hand-guided cleaning appliances are used, which have a main body with a handle attached thereto in an articulated manner, wherein the main body accommodates a rotatable roller assembly. The roller assembly is rotated by means of an electric motor integrated into the cleaning appliance, for example by means of a battery-operated electric motor. The cleaning appliance is guided over the floor to be cleaned. In the process, the rotatable roller assembly loosens dirt adhering to the floor. The cleaning appliance is further equipped with a suction device, which has a suction slot that is arranged adjacent to the roller assembly. The suction assembly picks up the dirt loosened by the brush assembly and conveys it into a dirt container arranged in the cleaning appliance.

The cleaning appliance can also comprise a device for applying cleaning liquid to the floor to be cleaned. The cleaning liquid comes into contact with the brush roller, whereby the brush roller can also loosen firmly adhering dirt.

A problem here is that over time dirt can accumulate on the brush roller. In order to remove the dirt from the brush roller, it is known from the prior art to place the main body of the cleaning appliance within a pan-shaped cleaning apparatus.

The cleaning apparatus comprises a container with a depression that is suitable for accommodating the cleaning appliance's main body, which is equipped with the brush roller. The cleaning apparatus further comprises a water reservoir in which there is a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid comes into contact with the brush roller. For cleaning operation, the brush roller of the cleaning appliance is put into rotation. In the process, the cleaning liquid loosens the dirt adhering to the brush roller and the loosened dirt passes via the suction slot into the dirt container arranged in the cleaning appliance.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a container having a depression for accommodating a main body of the cleaning appliance that is equipped with the rotatable brush roller and a water reservoir fluidly connected with the depression. A cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir has been filled flows automatically into the depression. When the cleaning appliance is disposed in the cleaning apparatus, the water reservoir is associated with an edge of the cleaning appliance that is spaced apart from the brush roller, and the brush roller at least partially abuts a bottom of the depression.

In another embodiment, a cleaning system is also provided that includes the cleaning apparatus and the cleaning appliance

The object is to provide a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance and a cleaning system that includes a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning appliance, which enables the simple and improved cleaning of the brush roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cleaning apparatus in plan view, side view, and front view, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a 3D representation, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a section view, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cleaning appliance in a section view, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a 3D representation of a cleaning system, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates the cleaning system according to FIG. 5 in a front view, in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the cleaning system according to FIG. 5 in a section view, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance comprises a container having a first depression for receiving the cleaning appliance's main body that is equipped with the brush roller, and a water reservoir. The water reservoir is fluidically connected with the first depression, and cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir has been filled flows automatically into the first depression. The first depression is designed such that the water reservoir is associated with the edge of the cleaning appliance that is spaced apart from the brush roller, and the brush roller at least partially abuts the bottom of the first depression.

In the cleaning apparatus according to this embodiment, it is advantageous that the cleaning liquid flows from the water reservoir gradually in the direction of the brush roller. This can prevent the brush roller from coming into contact with an excessive quantity of cleaning liquid. Furthermore, the flow rate of the cleaning liquid can be adjusted in such a way that rapid and effective cleaning of the brush roller is possible and dirty cleaning liquid is immediately discharged from the depression. In most developments of cleaning appliances, the edge referred to above is the rear edge of the cleaning appliance. In these cleaning appliances, the articulated connection of the handle is also located in the region of the rear edge.

The container that forms the cleaning apparatus is usually placed on a floor for cleaning. The water reservoir is here further away from the floor than is the depression. As a result, the cleaning liquid can automatically flow from the water reservoir into the depression by the action of gravity.

The depression can have a first trough for accommodating the main body of the cleaning appliance and a second trough for accommodating the brush roller, wherein the first trough is located between the water reservoir and the second trough. In this development, the depression is adapted to the underside of the main body of the cleaning appliance, which enables effective cleaning of the brush roller. The second trough for accommodating the brush roller is preferably designed in the form of a semi-circular depression, which is adapted to the shape of the brush roller.

The first trough can have additional depressions for accommodating wheels and the like.

A channel along which the cleaning liquid introduced into the water reservoir passes automatically into the second trough can be incorporated in the first trough. The channel ensures that the cleaning liquid passes directly from the water reservoir into the second trough.

The second trough can be provided with projections. In this case, the projections can take the form of studs, for example. The projections result in a punctiform contact of the brush roller with the bottom of the second trough, which improves the cleaning effect. The projections are preferably comb-shaped. For this purpose, the projections in the form of studs can be arranged in a line, for example like a comb. Such an arrangement of projections effects a particularly thorough cleaning of the brush roller.

At least one slot can be introduced into the wall of the water reservoir, through which slot the cleaning liquid filling the water reservoir passes into the at least one channel. In this case, the at least one slot is preferably designed in such a way that the volumetric flow of the cleaning liquid entering the channel is independent of the level of the cleaning liquid in the water reservoir. For this purpose, for example, the width of the slot can change depending on the height. The slot width is preferably selected such that, over a period of 30 s, approximately 100 ml of liquid enters the second trough via the channel.

The cleaning system according to the invention comprises a cleaning apparatus as described above and a cleaning appliance comprising a main body equipped with a rotatable brush roller. The cleaning appliance furthermore preferably comprises a handle connected in an articulated manner to the main body, an electric motor that sets the brush roller in rotation, and a battery that provides the electric motor with electrical energy.

The main body is preferably further provided with a suction device having a suction opening. The suction opening is preferably designed as a suction slot and is arranged adjacent to the brush roller on the underside of the main body facing the floor to be cleaned. The suction device is designed to pick up dirt loosened from the brush roller and to convey it into a dirt container arranged in the main body.

The underside of the main body of the cleaning appliance and the bottom of the depression of the cleaning appliance are essentially designed to be mutually congruent, so that the main body of the cleaning appliance can be at least partially inserted into the depression.

For cleaning the brush roller, the water reservoir is filled with cleaning liquid. This flows into the second trough via the slot and the channel. The cleaning liquid there comes into contact with the rotating brush roller, and the brush roller also comes into contact with the projections located in the second trough, whereby dirt loosens and enters the cleaning liquid. By the rotation of the brush roller, the dirty cleaning liquid is conveyed towards the suction opening of the cleaning appliance and is taken up there by the suction device and conveyed into the dirt container arranged in the cleaning appliance.

A development of the appliance and a development of the cleaning system are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a cleaning apparatus 1 for cleaning a rotatable brush roller 13 of a cleaning appliance 11, in accordance with an embodiment. The cleaning apparatus 1 comprises a container 2 with a depression 3, which is suitable for accommodating the main body 12 of the cleaning appliance 11 that is equipped with the brush roller 13. The container 2 furthermore comprises a water reservoir 4, wherein the water reservoir 4 is fluidically connected to the depression 3.

The container 2 is formed from injection-moldable plastic and has a circumferential edge 18, which bounds the depression 3 and the water reservoir 4. The edge 18 simultaneously forms a placement surface, so that the cleaning apparatus 1 can be placed on a floor. Here, the water reservoir 4 is arranged in the cleaning apparatus 1 in such a way that, when viewed from the floor on which the cleaning apparatus 1 is placed, it is arranged higher than the depression 3. As a result, cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir 4 has been filled automatically arrives in the depression 3 under the action of gravity.

The depression 3 has a first trough 5 for accommodating the main body 12 of the cleaning appliance 11 and a second trough 6 for accommodating the brush roller 13. As can be seen in the plan view, the first trough 5 is arranged between the water reservoir 4 and the second trough 6. The brush roller 13 at least partially abuts the bottom 17 of the trough 6.

Three channels 7 are incorporated in the first trough 5, through which the cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir 4 has been filled automatically passes into the second trough 6. Three slots 10, which are in communication with the channels 7 and through which the cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir 4 has been filled passes into the channels 7, are introduced into a wall 9 of the water reservoir 4.

In the cleaning apparatus 1, according to an embodiment, the water reservoir 4 and the second trough 6 lie opposite each other and are in each case associated with the circumferential edge 18. The first trough 5 is located between the water reservoir 4 and the second trough 6.

The second trough 6 is designed in the form of a cylindrical depression, and the second trough 6 is provided with projections 8 in the form of studs. The projections 8 in the form of studs in the second trough 6 are arranged in a line, for example, and thus like a comb. Overall, three rows of projections 8 arranged in a comb-like manner are provided in the second trough 6.

In the area of the second trough 6, an emergency drain 19 is introduced into the edge 18 of the cleaning apparatus 1. The emergency drain 19 comprises a third trough, which is separated from the second trough 6 by a partition wall. An opening in the form of a slot let into the bottom area is provided in the partition wall. The emergency drain 19 communicates with the second trough 6 in a flow-conducting manner through the opening.

If the cleaning liquid that has flowed into the second trough 6 cannot be taken up by the cleaning appliance 11, the cleaning liquid will flow through the opening into the emergency drain 19. Openings in the form of two mutually opposite, slot-shaped through-holes are introduced into the edge 18 in the region of the third trough. The cleaning liquid flows out through the through-holes, if no more space is left in the third trough.

The emergency drain 19 enables the cleaning liquid to drain out if the cleaning liquid is not being discharged as intended. For example, the cleaning liquid may drain out if the cleaning liquid is not being taken up by the suction opening 15 of the cleaning appliance 11. This prevents the cleaning liquid from reaching mechanical or electrical components of the cleaning appliance 11, which are not designed to come into contact with the cleaning liquid.

On the side facing the water reservoir 4, the first trough 5 has recesses 20, which are designed to accommodate wheels 21 of the cleaning appliance 11.

FIG. 4 shows a cleaning appliance 11. The cleaning appliance 11 has a main body 12, which is provided with a rotatable brush roller 13. The cleaning appliance 11 is further provided with a suction device 14, wherein the suction device 14 has a suction opening 15 in the form of a suction slot. The suction opening 15 and the brush roller 13 are associated with the underbody 16 of the main body 12 facing the depression 3. The suction opening 15 and the brush roller 13 are adjacent to each other, and the suction opening 15 is associated with the front edge of the main body 12, followed by the brush roller 13. The suction device 14 takes up liquid and directs it into a reservoir for holding dirty liquid. The suction device 14 is removably attached within a housing unit to the cleaning appliance 11.

The cleaning appliance 11 is further equipped with a device 23 for applying cleaning liquid to the floor to be cleaned. The device 23 is also associated with the underbody 16 of the main body 12.

The cleaning appliance 11 is equipped with electric motors for driving the brush roller 13 and the suction device 14, wherein the electrical energy is provided via a battery arranged in the cleaning appliance 11.

The cleaning appliance 11 has a handle with operating switches for the electric motors of the suction device 14 and brush roller 13, and the handle is arranged in an articulated manner on the main body 12.

The brush roller 13 and the suction opening 15 are arranged in the underbody 16 in such a way that the brush roller 13 is in at least partial abutment in the second trough 6, and the suction opening 15 is located between the first trough 6 and the edge 18.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a cleaning system 22 comprising a cleaning apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment. The cleaning apparatus may be the cleaning apparatus 1, as described according to FIGS. 1 to 3. Furthermore, the cleaning system 22 shown here comprises a cleaning appliance 11 according to FIG. 4.

In order to clean the brush roller 13, the water reservoir 4 is filled with cleaning liquid. This reaches the second trough 6 automatically via the slots 10 and the channels 7 by the action of gravity and there comes into contact with the rotating brush roller 13. The brush roller 13 is thereby rinsed and simultaneously comes into contact with the projections 8, which are arranged in the second trough 6. The cleaning liquid holding the dirt rinsed off by the brush roller 13 is conveyed toward the suction opening 15 and taken up by the suction opening 15 and conveyed into the dirt tank arranged in the cleaning appliance 11.

A cleaning strip 25 made of textile material is associated with the suction opening 15. The cleaning strip 25 is associated with the housing unit with the suction device 14 and can therefore be removed from the main body 12 together with the housing unit. The cleaning strip 25 can thus be cleaned separately from the main body 12. The cleaning strip 25 serves to seal the gap between the main body 12 and the brush roller 13 on the side facing away from the suction opening 15. At the same time, the cleaning strip 25 smooths out the wiping result during the forward movement of the cleaning appliance 11.

While the embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present disclosure covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the embodiments refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C. 

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotatable brush roller of a cleaning appliance, the cleaning apparatus comprising: a container having a depression for accommodating a main body of the cleaning appliance that is equipped with the rotatable brush roller, and a water reservoir fluidly connected with the depression, wherein cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir has been filled flows automatically into the depression, and wherein, when the cleaning appliance is disposed in the cleaning apparatus, the water reservoir is associated with an edge of the cleaning appliance that is spaced apart from the brush roller, and the brush roller at least partially abuts a bottom of the depression.
 2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the depression includes a first trough for accommodating the main body of the cleaning appliance and a second trough for accommodating the rotatable brush roller, wherein the first trough is located between the water reservoir and the second trough.
 3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one channel is set into the first trough, and the cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir has been filled automatically passes through the at least one channel into the second trough.
 4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, that wherein the second trough includes with projections.
 5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the projections are arranged in a line.
 6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one slot is introduced into a wall of the water reservoir, wherein the cleaning liquid with which the water reservoir has been filled passes through the at least one slot into the at least one channel.
 7. A cleaning system comprising: a cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, and a cleaning appliance comprising a main body, which is equipped with a rotatable brush roller.
 8. The cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the main body is provided with a suction device having a suction opening, wherein the suction opening and the brush roller are associated with an underbody of the main body facing the depression when the cleaning appliance is disposed in the cleaning apparatus.
 9. The cleaning system according to claim 8, wherein the brush roller and the suction opening are arranged in the underbody of the main body of the cleaning appliance in such a way that, when the cleaning appliance is disposed in the cleaning apparatus, the brush roller is at least in partial abutment in the second trough and the suction opening is arranged between the first trough and an edge. 